The Wild Wind

[Erthona]

Call it what it is, reversed syntax. English is a Germanic language although 60% of the words in English are derived from Old French. The reversed syntax came as a result of the Norman (French) invasion of 1066. To impress the French court poets wrote sonnets in English, but often reversed the syntax to sound "high falutin", like it came from the french court. Writing strictly in IP can often seem to force one into reverse syntax, as it is also not native to English, however this poem is not written in IP, but in "accentual tetrameter" as it is primarily devoid of any consistent meter; as such there is really no excuse for reversed syntax other than as an affectation, that is to make it "sound" more poetic like. I would advise avoiding it, just as I would advise avoid not capitalizing all "i"'. There is simply no rationalization for it, and it is affectation pure and simply.

Dale